Celtic’s Bold Move For The Championship’s Finest Mind As New Manager: Would He Actually Swap Portman Road For Parkhead?

They could dominate Scotland with McKenna in charge and the right investment, of course, it’s just about whether the club are prepared to do it. Bringing in some top players alongside a top manager, with the ambition of going and competing in Europe as well, that could be tempting.

It just depends on whether Celtic are prepared to be ambitious and offer that kind of thing to McKenna or any manager, or if they’re happy with where they are. You get the feeling that is the case, it’s why Brendan [Rodgers] left, so let’s see if that’s changed their minds at all.”

McKenna’s record at Ipswich, 106 wins in 222 games, proves he knows how to build a team from scratch. That said, any hope of a move to Glasgow seems out of reach now that Ipswich are back in the big time, with McKenna looking settled at Portman Road.

Would Celtic actually commit the finances McKenna demands to make this work?

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – APRIL 28: Kieran McKenna, Manager of Ipswich Town, inspects the pitch prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Southampton and Ipswich Town at St Mary’s Stadium on April 28, 2026 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

The real question here goes beyond whether McKenna is interested. It is about whether the Celtic board is actually ready to spend big on a manager, as their track record suggests a certain level of hesitation behind the scenes. Rodgers walked away for this exact reason. McKenna is known for setting up disciplined, compact defences and hitting teams fast on the break, tactics that completely changed Ipswich’s fortunes.

However, his struggle came during their previous Premier League stint, where his recruitment was questioned, and results dipped. Celtic need a manager who can make the most of a healthy budget, and McKenna is the right man for it. But without real ambition from the directors, hiring him wouldn’t change the underlying issues. The fact that Robbie Keane is currently the bookies’ favourite at 15/8 says a lot about where fans’ expectations are right now. Celtic have to decide if they want to push forward or settle for the status quo.

Celtic face a narrowing window before McKenna becomes untouchable

McKenna has just steered Ipswich back to the top flight, and he isn’t likely to leave unless a massive Premier League club come calling. Celtic’s chance to grab him, if there ever was one, has pretty much passed for this window. The Hoops need to make a move fast on other targets before those doors start closing, too.